You are going to be bored. The weather sucks. The normal, conservative people are probably slightly more tolerable than the baby-boomer liberals.

hey erica
really there is no need to worry
first off, you need to know that pittsburgh folks are their worst enemies.
there could be a rock carnival in their backyard, an art orgy in their attic, and geniuses playing chess on their porch and they would still go ho hum, I'm so bored. They just can't seem to stop picking up the soap for NY & Philly.
So first things first, stay away from the negative people.
Second thing is, what do you like to do?
Yes, the weather is sucky compared to Cally, very Londonish-Seattlish.
As far as people, depends on who you meet, depends on your future work environment.
I moved back to Pittsburgh after a few years of travel, because I found it to be the most welcoming arts community I had encountered. This is a no BS, no PC kind of city. You will find people to be very friendly and open. Trust me.
in the meantime,
check my website, www.christianed.us
look under Cerchio and there are several links to things that are happening in Pittsburgh.
Ciao
Christiane D

You will only be bored if you're boring. There is always more to do than it is possible to do. The "scenes" aren't as big here as they are in san fran, but they exist.

What kind of things do you like to do?

I moved here a year ago from San Francisco and like this city much more than I ever expected....There are many beautiful things here, the buildings, so much green stuff, fall leaves like we don't have back home, springs that make you feel like you've been reborn, etc.

I hate summer though, it's hot and it's humid, you will not be prepared for it. I think that you may be like me and prefer even the snowy winter to the stickieness that is the summer. You'll see though. May I suggest central air in the house and a/c in the car.

There is plenty to do here and many interesting people. There are also alot of homophobic and racist people, but they are just subtle enough about it that you don't want to run and hide. I have had to ask people not to say certain things to me and those people have respected my request. They are not people I've ever spoken to again, but it was a situation that I was able to handle at the time.

Unlike San Francisco, it is very cheap here, you can go out to a bar and spend well under $40.00, especially if you embrace the Yuengling as I have. Keep in mind however, that the bus and taxi systems here suck, so you will want to either have a designated driver or get behind the wheel of your car drunk, like the locals do.

If you do end up moving here, drop me a line, I have another SF expat here that I spend much of my time with.

I am a former Cal. resident but not S.F. even though my brother lives there now ...
He doesn't come home to PGH. much anymore if that means anything ?!

The difference in Weather is perhaps the biggest difference ...
The humid oppressive Summer weather is a serious pain in the ass if you don't have A-C in car/home/work ... The humidity just drains the life out of you ...

The Winters are cold ... not as cold as up in Calgary, AB. Canada where I was for awhile but still ...

Definetly more Republican and right-wing i'd say ....

Funny cuz i've tossed the idea of moving to S.F. around ... hee hee ..

Well, I've never been to Ca. I grew up in the country one county East of Pittsburgh, and moved to the city when I went to college.

Pittsburgh has a lot of things going on, but unlike a large city, it's all kind of under the surface. You just gotta poke around. I have friends that do belly dancing, for instance. Mostly through the SCA.

Weather? well, it's the Northeast. It's hot and muggy in the summer, rainy in the spring, snowy and cold and slushy in the winter. Fall is the best. The weather is perfectly temperate, and the fall foliage makes this region one of the beautiful places in the world.

Because of our Steel-Baron history, our "High Arts" are at a higher level than would be normal for our size. We have a great Natural History Museum (one of the best dinosaur collections in the world), ballet, opera, and a world class symphony (our current musical director's last job was with the Vienna Philharmonic!). There is an active arts and crafts scene. University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon university are both world class. Add Duquesne universitie's music program to the very good programs of the last two, and we've got a lot of good musicians hanging out. You aren't going to trip and fall over Beyonce every day, but we've got music.

You will be able to buy a very acceptable house here. Something that would be undreamed of in the bay area for a very reasonable cost.

Like History? We're drenched in it. Going back to before the French and Indian War.

Conservative? Well, in a way. The character of the city is still working class (German Protestant Work Ethic walks tall here). The percentage of people from the region who take up military service is well above average. But it's strongly union, and a democratic machine has controlled the mayor's office since before anyone can remember.

And the other commentators are correct about going out. If you walk into a bar, people will start talking to you like they've known you for half their lives. You will be able to leave your money sitting on the bar when you visit the neccesary. And when you come back the next weekend, your name will be remembered.

If you really need to get out of the city, you are close to a lot of stuff. Pennsylvania is largely rural and has a mountain range running through it. Getting away from the city is merely a matter of picking a direction and driving for a half hour. We are only several hours from D.C./Baltimore, West Virginia (appalachian music and outdoor sports), and the Great Lakes. Less than a days drive from New York, Nashville, Chicago, Charlsetown, New England, and the Atlantic ocean.

We are multi-cultural. We have thriving Indian and Asian populations. And one of the most active Jewish populations in the country. You just don't notice it, because they are all well-assimilated into the city. And people here remember their European immigrant roots. Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary, as well as Italian. Polish, Irish, German, etc.

Great radio too. 3 major public radio stations, one classical, one Jazz, and one adult-alternative.

Anyway, the city has a lot of "character." It's not perfect, but it is what it is, and what it is is not bad.

I recently moved here for my fiance from Chicago. I am an architect and he is a doc student.. the arts scene is pretty well developed but generally if you want to do not of your typical taste kinda stuff you have to either get dirty and make it happen, which is really cool because this city has tons of resources OR you have to look really hard, in which case you will find what you are looking for... it seems really placid kinda place but its really teeming with interesting people and lots of things to do... i know of several world and global dance type of places where you could probabbly find belly dancers and other performers.... pittsburgh burner community is small and tight but it may be a good place to start in meeting non conservative people..

there are alot of assholes and rednecks in this town, but that just adds to the challange of creating your own niche..